Antwerp inks Iranian collaboration

July 19 - The Antwerp Port Authority has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding collaboration with Shahid Rajaee Port Authority, which controls the Port of Bandar Abbas in Iran.

The MoU was signed at the headquarters of Iran's Ports & Maritime Organisation in Tehran, which is responsible for managing11 Iranain ports. The agreement runs for a period of five years, after which it can be renewed.

"Today we are restoring our trading relations with Iran, a country with great economic growth potential that is also a gateway to neighbouring countries," said current Antwerp Port Authority ceo Eddy Bruyninckx.

In March this year, Iran's national shipping company - Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) - returned to Antwerp with its first containership since international sanctions were imposed.

The Belgian port expects not only container traffic from Iran, but also volumes of breakbulk and bulk cargo to expand rapidly in the next few months.

Under the terms of the MoU the respective port authorities of Antwerp and Bandar Abbas will join forces so that companies in both ports can collaborate closely once more and develop trade between the two regions.

This will involve amongst other things exchanging information on statistics and port development projects, as well as collaboration in training, said the Port of Antwerp.